A Friendly Letter

AI Quakerism, Part Two: ChatBot Delivers Solutions for Our Five Biggest Problems. (Or Does It?)

Yesterday, we asked ChatBot to identify the five biggest issues facing Quakers today, and posted the query and the full text of its reply. Then, as promised, we followed up by asking ChatBot (CB for short) to sketch out practical solutions to these problems, again based on its familiarity with the presumably vast resources of … Continue reading AI Quakerism, Part Two: ChatBot Delivers Solutions for Our Five Biggest Problems. (Or Does It?) →

Garrison Keillor: in Search of Lutheran Diversity

Garrison Keillor: I talked to a friend last week whose Lutheran church in Minneapolis is trying to attract people of color. Lutherans have been white for centuries, coming as they did from Scandinavia and Germany, countries that were never great colonial powers and didn’t grab big chunks of Africa and Lutheranize the indigenous people. Some … Continue reading Garrison Keillor: in Search of Lutheran Diversity →

Two Trans Fights: One-Woman Nebraska Filibuster Against Anti-Trans Bill Is In Its 3rd Week — While Arkansas Guv Signs Similar Bill

AP News: Nebraska lawmaker 3 weeks into filibuster to stop anti-trans bill BY MARGERY A. BECK — March 14, 2023 LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — It was a mundane, unanimously supported bill on liquor taxation that saw state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh take to the mic on the Nebraska Legislature floor last week. She offered her support, then … Continue reading Two Trans Fights: One-Woman Nebraska Filibuster Against Anti-Trans Bill Is In Its 3rd Week — While Arkansas Guv Signs Similar Bill →

Exclusive: Chatbot Names Top Quaker Issues; Makes Blog Obsolete?

March 14, 2023 It had to happen, right? Someone was sure to try to find out if/when Chatbot will make Quaker blogs, journals, and all other pre-AI communication as outmoded and unnecessary as, you know, Wiliam Penn, or Philadelphia. And now it’s happened. The results are here, in full, and unexpurgated. Well, not quite in … Continue reading Exclusive: Chatbot Names Top Quaker Issues; Makes Blog Obsolete? →

Women’s Stories: New Harriet Tubman Memorial in Newark NJ! (Repost from 2023)

Harriet Tubman monument unveiled, replacing Columbus statue in Newark, New Jersey By Liam Reilly and Kia Fatahi, CNN (CNN) — A monument honoring famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman was unveiled in Newark, New Jersey, this week, replacing a statue of Christopher Columbus removed in 2020 amid social injustice protests, officials said. The 25-foot-tall monument, titled “Shadow … Continue reading Women’s Stories: New Harriet Tubman Memorial in Newark NJ! (Repost from 2023) →